WINDHOEK, March 7 (Xinhua) -- Namibia was awarded the Best Destination Safari and Wildlife from the Pacific Areas Travel Writers Association (PATWA) on Thursday, at the ITB Berlin in Germany.

The ITB Berlin is one of the biggest travel exhibitions in the world, which was kicked off in Berlin on Wednesday and will conclude on Sunday,

Namibian Minister of Environment and Tourism Pohamba Shifeta said in a statement that the southwestern African nation is humbled and privileged to have been recognized and honored with the award.

"The success story that you are witnessing through this award stem from the government realizing right at the onset at independence in 1990 that our natural assets is the bedrock of our tourism industry and ensured that the protection of Namibia's nature and wildlife was enshrined in the republic's constitution," he said.

According to Shifeta, Namibia strives for the maintenance of its ecological biodiversity for the benefit of its citizens and the world.

Shifeta said the award could not have come a better time than now, when the country is battling to control poaching of rhinos and elephants.

"This will encourage us as the authority and our various stakeholders to do more to stop poaching of high value species," added the minister.

PATWA is a professional organization of travel writers founded in 1998.